Friday we drove up to Ithaca for David's first college visit (he's a
junior). We dropped him off at a friend's dorm, and checked into our
hotel. Walked to a nearby recommended tapas place, but wait was 30
minutes. So we tried Madeline's down the street. Wine list was ok,
though the American choices were better than the European. I ordered a
bottle of the 2003 David Bruce Pinot Noir (Sonoma). I sniffed for TCA
and approved, waitress poured. That's when I discovered the wine was
wayyyy too warm. When waitress returned I asked for an ice bucket(she
looked at me like I was insane/don'tyouknowredwineisroomtemp), but got
bucket. I struggled through what was already poured while waiting, but
at 75°F or so it was thick and gloppy.

As it cooled, a better wine showed. Good black cherry fruit, with
cooler temps some acidity peeked its head out to keep it from being
gloppy. It still showed as too oaky for me, the sweet vanilla notes
were a bit much. Still, I liked the dark cherry fruit, and a bit of
spice melded well with my Asian duck. Wine gets a B. Food had ups and
downs - foccacia was good, as was Betsy's endive/fennel salad with
passion fruit vinaigrette. and my beef samosas (though the tamarind
saucewas a bit much). My duck two ways (five spiced leg and breast)
was tasty, but I tried to avoid the huge lake of sweet berry sauce -
Betsy had same issue with her NY strip and the peppercorn sauce. Good
mashed potatoes and broccolli rabe.

Saturday after tour we drove home, we had been invited to dinner so
didn't worry about cooking. Enjoyed our tour of friends' new home (we
had only seen while helping move). Before dinner we enjoyed the NV
Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne. I've noted big bottle variation
here, this one was one of the better showings. Light but not
insubstantial, a nice yeasty/biscuity note that was missing from last
bottle I had. Not bad, but who knows what next bottle will bring. This
one gets a solid B.

Main course was seared buffalo steaks, with dill mashed potatoes and
asparagus. Jim and Dana had just returned from a trip to Argentina and
Urugauy, and had brought back a bottle of the 2002 Luigi Bosca "Gala"
Malbec/Petit Verdot (I think Jim said there was also tannat in blend).
Rather big body, lots of dark fruit (blackberry with a little
blackcurrant) with a little floral edge and a slightly green underlying
flavor. Not as tannic as I would have expected, more fruit and oak
driven. A bit too much oak-driven for my tastes, a fruit and oak bomb.
Clearly well-made, just not my style. B/B-

The cheese plate has a nice assortment, including a nice blue, so I
accepted a glass of the Taylor-Fladgate 20 Year Old Tawny Port. I don't
drink much tawny, but this was rather nice. Nice lighter body, aromas
of holiday spiced nuts over a nice base of raisins, dried currants, and
apricots. B+/A-

We stayed at home on Superbowl Sunday, as Betsy prepared Paistettu
Sorsa (Finnish recipe of duck braised with juniper berries from a
recent Saveur). Unsure of what to expect, I checked Hugh Johnson's
pocket guide for food match, he suggested pinot with juniper berries.
Fine by me- I love duck and Burgundy. I opened a 375 of the 1999
Vincent Girardin "Clos des Chenes" Volnay 1er . Dark cherries, flowers,
and a little toast on the nose. Black raspberry fruit with some hints
of earth, vanilla, and mushrooms. A nice wine if a little more
oaky/modern and a bit bigger than what I love for in Volnay, there's
good depth if not a lot of elegance. Tasty, a B+. The recipe had a
little jam in the sauce,and there was also apples cooked inside the
duck. I think next time I'd actually go with a big white that's just
off-dry as a better match for the sweetness of the dish, though this
was ok. Last glass was quite nice watching the 2nd half.


Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent
wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't
drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no
promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of
consistency.

David Bruce has some very nice Pinot Noirs. My favorite is their Santa Cruz
Mountain vineyard. Excellent wine.

Personally I hate when red are served warmer than 70 degrees F. Almost not
worth ordering when it is.



"DaleW" > wrote in message
oups.com...
Friday we drove up to Ithaca for David's first college visit (he's a
junior). We dropped him off at a friend's dorm, and checked into our
hotel. Walked to a nearby recommended tapas place, but wait was 30
minutes. So we tried Madeline's down the street. Wine list was ok,
though the American choices were better than the European. I ordered a
bottle of the 2003 David Bruce Pinot Noir (Sonoma). I sniffed for TCA
and approved, waitress poured. That's when I discovered the wine was
wayyyy too warm. When waitress returned I asked for an ice bucket(she
looked at me like I was insane/don'tyouknowredwineisroomtemp), but got
bucket. I struggled through what was already poured while waiting, but
at 75°F or so it was thick and gloppy.

As it cooled, a better wine showed. Good black cherry fruit, with
cooler temps some acidity peeked its head out to keep it from being
gloppy. It still showed as too oaky for me, the sweet vanilla notes
were a bit much. Still, I liked the dark cherry fruit, and a bit of
spice melded well with my Asian duck. Wine gets a B. Food had ups and
downs - foccacia was good, as was Betsy's endive/fennel salad with
passion fruit vinaigrette. and my beef samosas (though the tamarind
saucewas a bit much). My duck two ways (five spiced leg and breast)
was tasty, but I tried to avoid the huge lake of sweet berry sauce -
Betsy had same issue with her NY strip and the peppercorn sauce. Good
mashed potatoes and broccolli rabe.

Saturday after tour we drove home, we had been invited to dinner so
didn't worry about cooking. Enjoyed our tour of friends' new home (we
had only seen while helping move). Before dinner we enjoyed the NV
Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne. I've noted big bottle variation
here, this one was one of the better showings. Light but not
insubstantial, a nice yeasty/biscuity note that was missing from last
bottle I had. Not bad, but who knows what next bottle will bring. This
one gets a solid B.

Main course was seared buffalo steaks, with dill mashed potatoes and
asparagus. Jim and Dana had just returned from a trip to Argentina and
Urugauy, and had brought back a bottle of the 2002 Luigi Bosca "Gala"
Malbec/Petit Verdot (I think Jim said there was also tannat in blend).
Rather big body, lots of dark fruit (blackberry with a little
blackcurrant) with a little floral edge and a slightly green underlying
flavor. Not as tannic as I would have expected, more fruit and oak
driven. A bit too much oak-driven for my tastes, a fruit and oak bomb.
Clearly well-made, just not my style. B/B-

The cheese plate has a nice assortment, including a nice blue, so I
accepted a glass of the Taylor-Fladgate 20 Year Old Tawny Port. I don't
drink much tawny, but this was rather nice. Nice lighter body, aromas
of holiday spiced nuts over a nice base of raisins, dried currants, and
apricots. B+/A-

We stayed at home on Superbowl Sunday, as Betsy prepared Paistettu
Sorsa (Finnish recipe of duck braised with juniper berries from a
recent Saveur). Unsure of what to expect, I checked Hugh Johnson's
pocket guide for food match, he suggested pinot with juniper berries.
Fine by me- I love duck and Burgundy. I opened a 375 of the 1999
Vincent Girardin "Clos des Chenes" Volnay 1er . Dark cherries, flowers,
and a little toast on the nose. Black raspberry fruit with some hints
of earth, vanilla, and mushrooms. A nice wine if a little more
oaky/modern and a bit bigger than what I love for in Volnay, there's
good depth if not a lot of elegance. Tasty, a B+. The recipe had a
little jam in the sauce,and there was also apples cooked inside the
duck. I think next time I'd actually go with a big white that's just
off-dry as a better match for the sweetness of the dish, though this
was ok. Last glass was quite nice watching the 2nd half.


Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent
wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't
drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no
promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of
consistency.

Long time lurker ...

Coincidently, my wife and I also turned away from the wait at the tapas
place Friday night. No problem, as we go often. I travel a lot for
business, and still regard this as my favorite place to eat. The food
changes every night, and the wine flights change frequently. Try again
next time you're in the area; it's worth the wait.

Back to lurking. Not that I don't appreciate good food and wine, just that
my descriptions will never match the regulars on this board.

Dave

"DaleW" > wrote in message
oups.com...
Friday we drove up to Ithaca for David's first college visit (he's a
junior). We dropped him off at a friend's dorm, and checked into our
hotel. Walked to a nearby recommended tapas place, but wait was 30
minutes. So we tried Madeline's down the street. Wine list was ok,
though the American choices were better than the European. I ordered a
bottle of the 2003 David Bruce Pinot Noir (Sonoma). I sniffed for TCA
and approved, waitress poured. That's when I discovered the wine was
wayyyy too warm. When waitress returned I asked for an ice bucket(she
looked at me like I was insane/don'tyouknowredwineisroomtemp), but got
bucket. I struggled through what was already poured while waiting, but
at 75°F or so it was thick and gloppy.

As it cooled, a better wine showed. Good black cherry fruit, with
cooler temps some acidity peeked its head out to keep it from being
gloppy. It still showed as too oaky for me, the sweet vanilla notes
were a bit much. Still, I liked the dark cherry fruit, and a bit of
spice melded well with my Asian duck. Wine gets a B. Food had ups and
downs - foccacia was good, as was Betsy's endive/fennel salad with
passion fruit vinaigrette. and my beef samosas (though the tamarind
saucewas a bit much). My duck two ways (five spiced leg and breast)
was tasty, but I tried to avoid the huge lake of sweet berry sauce -
Betsy had same issue with her NY strip and the peppercorn sauce. Good
mashed potatoes and broccolli rabe.

Saturday after tour we drove home, we had been invited to dinner so
didn't worry about cooking. Enjoyed our tour of friends' new home (we
had only seen while helping move). Before dinner we enjoyed the NV
Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne. I've noted big bottle variation
here, this one was one of the better showings. Light but not
insubstantial, a nice yeasty/biscuity note that was missing from last
bottle I had. Not bad, but who knows what next bottle will bring. This
one gets a solid B.

Main course was seared buffalo steaks, with dill mashed potatoes and
asparagus. Jim and Dana had just returned from a trip to Argentina and
Urugauy, and had brought back a bottle of the 2002 Luigi Bosca "Gala"
Malbec/Petit Verdot (I think Jim said there was also tannat in blend).
Rather big body, lots of dark fruit (blackberry with a little
blackcurrant) with a little floral edge and a slightly green underlying
flavor. Not as tannic as I would have expected, more fruit and oak
driven. A bit too much oak-driven for my tastes, a fruit and oak bomb.
Clearly well-made, just not my style. B/B-

The cheese plate has a nice assortment, including a nice blue, so I
accepted a glass of the Taylor-Fladgate 20 Year Old Tawny Port. I don't
drink much tawny, but this was rather nice. Nice lighter body, aromas
of holiday spiced nuts over a nice base of raisins, dried currants, and
apricots. B+/A-

We stayed at home on Superbowl Sunday, as Betsy prepared Paistettu
Sorsa (Finnish recipe of duck braised with juniper berries from a
recent Saveur). Unsure of what to expect, I checked Hugh Johnson's
pocket guide for food match, he suggested pinot with juniper berries.
Fine by me- I love duck and Burgundy. I opened a 375 of the 1999
Vincent Girardin "Clos des Chenes" Volnay 1er . Dark cherries, flowers,
and a little toast on the nose. Black raspberry fruit with some hints
of earth, vanilla, and mushrooms. A nice wine if a little more
oaky/modern and a bit bigger than what I love for in Volnay, there's
good depth if not a lot of elegance. Tasty, a B+. The recipe had a
little jam in the sauce,and there was also apples cooked inside the
duck. I think next time I'd actually go with a big white that's just
off-dry as a better match for the sweetness of the dish, though this
was ok. Last glass was quite nice watching the 2nd half.


Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent
wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't
drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no
promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of
consistency.

Richard Neidich wrote:
> David Bruce has some very nice Pinot Noirs. My favorite is their Santa Cruz
> Mountain vineyard. Excellent wine.

Another vote for David Bruce Santa Cruz Mountain pinot noir. My only
problem is that it is almost the same cost as Talley estate, which I
like better.

I have not had Tally Estate. Don't know if that is locally available.


> wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> Richard Neidich wrote:
>> David Bruce has some very nice Pinot Noirs. My favorite is their Santa
>> Cruz
>> Mountain vineyard. Excellent wine.
>
> Another vote for David Bruce Santa Cruz Mountain pinot noir. My only
> problem is that it is almost the same cost as Talley estate, which I
> like better.
>

Dave,
don't lurk.....share your wine experience...if people who enjoy good wine
and food don't.....only the snobs rule!
Paul

"Dave" > wrote in message
...
> Long time lurker ...
>
> Coincidently, my wife and I also turned away from the wait at the tapas
> place Friday night. No problem, as we go often. I travel a lot for
> business, and still regard this as my favorite place to eat. The food
> changes every night, and the wine flights change frequently. Try again
> next time you're in the area; it's worth the wait.
>
> Back to lurking. Not that I don't appreciate good food and wine, just
> that
> my descriptions will never match the regulars on this board.
>
> Dave
>
> "DaleW" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> Friday we drove up to Ithaca for David's first college visit (he's a
> junior). We dropped him off at a friend's dorm, and checked into our
> hotel. Walked to a nearby recommended tapas place, but wait was 30
> minutes. So we tried Madeline's down the street. Wine list was ok,
> though the American choices were better than the European. I ordered a
> bottle of the 2003 David Bruce Pinot Noir (Sonoma). I sniffed for TCA
> and approved, waitress poured. That's when I discovered the wine was
> wayyyy too warm. When waitress returned I asked for an ice bucket(she
> looked at me like I was insane/don'tyouknowredwineisroomtemp), but got
> bucket. I struggled through what was already poured while waiting, but
> at 75°F or so it was thick and gloppy.
>
> As it cooled, a better wine showed. Good black cherry fruit, with
> cooler temps some acidity peeked its head out to keep it from being
> gloppy. It still showed as too oaky for me, the sweet vanilla notes
> were a bit much. Still, I liked the dark cherry fruit, and a bit of
> spice melded well with my Asian duck. Wine gets a B. Food had ups and
> downs - foccacia was good, as was Betsy's endive/fennel salad with
> passion fruit vinaigrette. and my beef samosas (though the tamarind
> saucewas a bit much). My duck two ways (five spiced leg and breast)
> was tasty, but I tried to avoid the huge lake of sweet berry sauce -
> Betsy had same issue with her NY strip and the peppercorn sauce. Good
> mashed potatoes and broccolli rabe.
>
> Saturday after tour we drove home, we had been invited to dinner so
> didn't worry about cooking. Enjoyed our tour of friends' new home (we
> had only seen while helping move). Before dinner we enjoyed the NV
> Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne. I've noted big bottle variation
> here, this one was one of the better showings. Light but not
> insubstantial, a nice yeasty/biscuity note that was missing from last
> bottle I had. Not bad, but who knows what next bottle will bring. This
> one gets a solid B.
>
> Main course was seared buffalo steaks, with dill mashed potatoes and
> asparagus. Jim and Dana had just returned from a trip to Argentina and
> Urugauy, and had brought back a bottle of the 2002 Luigi Bosca "Gala"
> Malbec/Petit Verdot (I think Jim said there was also tannat in blend).
> Rather big body, lots of dark fruit (blackberry with a little
> blackcurrant) with a little floral edge and a slightly green underlying
> flavor. Not as tannic as I would have expected, more fruit and oak
> driven. A bit too much oak-driven for my tastes, a fruit and oak bomb.
> Clearly well-made, just not my style. B/B-
>
> The cheese plate has a nice assortment, including a nice blue, so I
> accepted a glass of the Taylor-Fladgate 20 Year Old Tawny Port. I don't
> drink much tawny, but this was rather nice. Nice lighter body, aromas
> of holiday spiced nuts over a nice base of raisins, dried currants, and
> apricots. B+/A-
>
> We stayed at home on Superbowl Sunday, as Betsy prepared Paistettu
> Sorsa (Finnish recipe of duck braised with juniper berries from a
> recent Saveur). Unsure of what to expect, I checked Hugh Johnson's
> pocket guide for food match, he suggested pinot with juniper berries.
> Fine by me- I love duck and Burgundy. I opened a 375 of the 1999
> Vincent Girardin "Clos des Chenes" Volnay 1er . Dark cherries, flowers,
> and a little toast on the nose. Black raspberry fruit with some hints
> of earth, vanilla, and mushrooms. A nice wine if a little more
> oaky/modern and a bit bigger than what I love for in Volnay, there's
> good depth if not a lot of elegance. Tasty, a B+. The recipe had a
> little jam in the sauce,and there was also apples cooked inside the
> duck. I think next time I'd actually go with a big white that's just
> off-dry as a better match for the sweetness of the dish, though this
> was ok. Last glass was quite nice watching the 2nd half.
>
>
> Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent
> wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't
> drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no
> promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of
> consistency.
>
>